On Nov. 6, nine staff members were presented with the 2024 Chancellor’s Staff Awards for their exceptional contributions to the University of Pittsburgh. Chancellor Joan Gabel and James W. Gallaher Jr., vice chancellor for human resources, presented the honorees with certificates at a reception.
“The University of Pittsburgh is a special place and … as I have seen firsthand over the past year and a half, it’s the people who make it that way,” Gabel said.
Each honoree will also receive a $2,500 prize and see their name added to a plaque for recipients of the Chancellor’s Staff Awards that is on display in the William Pitt Union.
The awardees and some of the items mentioned in their nominations.
Community Engagement: Kelly Gilliam, United Way campaign manager, Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement. Recognized for serving as the University’s United Way campaign manager and overseeing a record-breaking campaign in 2023-24; volunteering with Pitt’s Civic Action Week; and supporting the community as pastor at Shiloh Church, community mediator for Just Mediation Pittsburgh and founding board member and executive director of Life Builders.
Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Anastasia White, senior director of strategic programs and services, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Recognized for helping to mobilize SHRS’ equity, diversity and inclusion goals, providing free clinical therapy rehabilitation services at the SHRS Wellness Pavilion at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood, launching a dedicated space for the school’s affinity groups, and developing an interdisciplinary global learning experience course.”
Excellent Mentor: Laura Kingsley, director, Office of Sponsored Programs. Recognized for “ensuring colleagues have access to industry best practices through (her) participation in the National Council of University Research Administrators and Federal Demonstration Partnership” and “securing recognition and professional development for colleagues.”
Exceptional Early Career Achievement: Miranda Acosta, administrative assistant for associate deans, School of Computing and Information. Recognized for “performing beyond (her) roles’ responsibilities” and “improving the operations of an incredibly dynamic workplace.”
Innovation in Advancing Administrative and Operational Efficiency: Christine Jackson, associate dean of business and finance, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Recognized for “helping SHRS grow into the University’s largest health sciences school (gross tuition revenue and enrollment),” “creating the business and finance team within the dean’s office and a cost savings plan worth several million dollars,” and “playing a significant role in the development of Pitt EDGE (the Center for Excellence in Digital Education).”
Outstanding Career Achievement: Pat Cercone, executive director of communications and marketing, Pitt-Bradford. Recognized for “spearheading the growth of the communications function at Pitt-Bradford” and “performing ‘beyond expectations’ in leadership roles.”
Research Support: Jean Barone, director, human research protection, Office of Research Protections. Recognized for “improving protections for human research subjects” and “diversifying Pitt’s Institutional Review Board.”
Student Impact: Brandon Barber, bioengineering design, innovation and outreach coordinator, Swanson School of Engineering. Recognized for leading the Swanson School’s Makerspace in partnership with students and co-developing the Innovation and Design Engineering Accelerator (IDEA) Lab.
University Engagement: Doreen Hernandez, administrator for Pitt’s Johnson Institute for Responsible Leadership and Frances Hesselbein Leadership Forum in the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. Recognized for co-founding the University’s Hispanic/Latinx Professional Association, co-creating and co-leading the Latinx Connect Conference, and serving on the Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month Planning Committee and as GSPIA representative in the Latinx Faculty Cluster Hire Initiative.